D.C. federal judge signals urgency as trans service members push for Trump military ban trial

"These service members deserve their day in court, and the public deserves to know what is driving the ban. The government wants to drag its feet and stonewall because it knows it has absolutely no evidence to support this harmful policy."

"In a motion filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the plaintiffs asked Judge Ana Reyes to schedule the case's first litigation conference within 45 days and to open discovery, the phase in which both sides exchange evidence and depose witnesses."

Transgender service members challenging Trump's January 2025 military ban are pushing their lawsuit toward trial as the Pentagon initiates separation proceedings against plaintiffs. Amiah Sale faces a separation board hearing on March 24, while Gordon Herrero received elimination proceedings notice in January. Both are named plaintiffs in Talbott v. United States, the primary legal challenge to the ban. Represented by GLAD Law and the National Center for LGBTQ+ Rights, the plaintiffs filed a motion requesting Judge Ana Reyes schedule a litigation conference within 45 days and open discovery proceedings. Legal director Shannon Minter stated the government lacks evidence supporting the policy. Judge Reyes ordered the government to respond by March 11.

Read at Advocate.com